NEW: Governor’s Budget Honors Local Artist
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
While the Governor's brand-new budget may elicit moans and howls, at least a local artist gets the cover.
This year's budget contains cover art by Rhode Island artist Mark Davis of Pawtucket, part of an annual collaboration between the State Budget Office and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts to feature original works of art by Rhode Island artists on the state budget document.
Peaceful times in Roger Williams Park
The cover of the State FY2013 budget books features Davis' fall scene of the footbridge in Roger Williams Park in Providence. The work was chosen by Governor Chafee from dozens of images gathered by the State Arts Council for his review.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRandall Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, said that such collaborations are important. "The State Budget represents the life and livelihood of all Rhode Islanders. It's not a sterile set of charts and numbers. Art helps to humanize this important document."
Thomas Mullaney, Budget Officer for the State of Rhode Island, agrees. “We value our relationship with the Council on the Arts,” said Mullaney. “We appreciate their help in finding artwork from Rhode Island artists for the cover of our annual budget documents, and we particularly thank Mark Davis for allowing us to use his photograph.“
"Living in the smallest state in the country still amazes me as to how many beautiful places we’re surrounded by," said Davis, who is a RISD graduate and a commercial and fine art photographer. "My photos represent the large gems that can be found in our small state."
And perhaps Davis' gemlike view will help Rhode Islanders swallow the bitter pill of this year's budget.
